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The Believing Brain : From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies - How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them As Truths

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The Believing Brain : From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies - How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them As Truths

by Michael Shermer
Compare to estimated retail price: S$37.24  

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The Believing Brain : From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies - How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them As Truths - Thryft
The Believing Brain : From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies - How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them As Truths - Thryft

The science of beliefs and how they're formed.

This book would be a great read for anyone who wants to understand how beliefs are formed and reinforced, including conspiracy theories and paranormal beliefs. Shermer presents a clear and scientific explanation of how our brains naturally look for patterns and create beliefs, sometimes leading us astray. His use of real-world examples makes this book a fascinating read that challenges readers to question their own beliefs and the beliefs of others.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Believing Brain : From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies - How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them As Truths

by Michael Shermer
Compare to estimated retail price: S$37.24  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

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This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

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ISBN: 9780805091250
Author: Michael Shermer
Publisher: Times Books
Date of Publication: 2011-05-30
Format: Hardback
Goodreads rating: 3.93
(rated by 7215 readers)

Description

In this work synthesizing thirty years of research, psychologist, historian of science, and the world's best-known skeptic Michael Shermer upends the traditional thinking about how humans form beliefs about the world. Simply put, beliefs come first and explanations for beliefs follow. The brain, Shermer argues, is a belief engine. From sensory data flowing in through the senses, the brain naturally begins to look for and find patterns, and then infuses those patterns with meaning. Our brains connect the dots of our world into meaningful patterns that explain why things happen, and these patterns become beliefs. Once beliefs are formed the brain begins to look for and find confirmatory evidence in support of those beliefs, which accelerates the process of reinforcing them, and round and round the process goes in a positive-feedback loop of belief confirmation. Shermer outlines the numerous cognitive tools our brains engage to reinforce our beliefs as truths. Interlaced with his theory of belief, Shermer provides countless real-world examples of how this process operates, from politics, economics, and religion to conspiracy theories, the supernatural, and the paranormal.
Ultimately, he demonstrates why science is the best tool ever devised to determine whether or not a belief matches reality.


Author: Michael Shermer
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 400
Publisher: Times Books
Publication Date: 30 May 2011
 

The science of beliefs and how they're formed.

This book would be a great read for anyone who wants to understand how beliefs are formed and reinforced, including conspiracy theories and paranormal beliefs. Shermer presents a clear and scientific explanation of how our brains naturally look for patterns and create beliefs, sometimes leading us astray. His use of real-world examples makes this book a fascinating read that challenges readers to question their own beliefs and the beliefs of others.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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